Congress Called on to Include ‘Direct and Flexible Funding’ to All Counties in Next Relief Bill

April 10, 2020 by Dan McCue
Congress Called on to Include ‘Direct and Flexible Funding’ to All Counties in Next Relief Bill
Old Nassau County Courthouse (Photo by DanTD)

WASHINGTON – As Congress considers a fourth coronavirus relief package, it must include direct and flexible funding and resources to counties of all sizes, the National Association of Counties said this week.

In a lengthy letter sent to the leaders of both the House and Senate, the association said while its 3,069 member counties remain “on the frontlines” of the nation’s ongoing public health emergency response, they are also experiencing massive and unprecedented declines in revenue as a result of the related economic downturn.

“The decline in revenue is occurring when the need for county services and functions is skyrocketing for things like child protective services, emergency 911 assistance, law enforcement and emergency management, nutrition assistance programs, assistance for older Americans and affordable housing, all of which are becoming more complicated and costly to maintain,” the association said.

It went on to say that though the $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed by Congress was very welcome, few counties will be able to access the funding under the language as written.

Instead, it says, the majority of aid to municipalities included in the stimulus bill will go to cities with populations above 500,000 and the states.

“Counties and other local governments below 500,000 are not even eligible for direct funding,” the association said.

Moving forward, the counties say they hope Congress will consider including a relief fund that is flexible and can be used to address lost revenue and supplement eligible personnel and administrative costs as a result of COVID-19 response.

In addition, the association asks the federal government to:

  • Provide clear federal guidance on the distribution of personal protective equipment and essential medical equipment;
  • Expand federal support for local Medicaid programs;
  • Implement moratorium on Medicaid fiscal accountability regulation;
  • Address an unfunded mandate included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act;
  • Eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency non-federal cost share currently required under the presidential disaster declaration;
  • Bolster counties’ ability to serve and protect their veterans;
  • Pause public comment periods;
  • Increase funding for the Social Services Block Grant;
  • Increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits; and
  • Restore advance refunding bonds;
  • Ensure broadband is an option for everyone; and,
  • Provide funding and flexibility for elections.

“Local governments are facing massive challenges in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and our resources are becoming more constrained by the day,” said Matthew Chase, executive director of the National Association of Counties. “As you consider developing a fourth supplemental package, we hope that you will support our efforts to effectively implement containment and community mitigation strategies that will preserve the health and safety of our residents and local communities.”

A+
a-
  • Congress
  • Coronavirus
  • counties
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    County News

    Residents at a Loss After Newspaper That Bound Community Together Closes

    WELCH, W.Va. (AP) — Months after Missy Nester ended The Welch News' 100-year run, she can barely stand to walk... Read More

    WELCH, W.Va. (AP) — Months after Missy Nester ended The Welch News' 100-year run, she can barely stand to walk through the office doors of the newspaper her mother taught her to read with growing up in West Virginia's southern coalfields. It’s still too painful. The... Read More

    February 15, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Biden Wows Attendees at Association of Counties Meeting

    WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden put the punctuation mark on what by all accounts was a highly successful National Association... Read More

    WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden put the punctuation mark on what by all accounts was a highly successful National Association of Counties Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton. In all, nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials registered for the five-day conference, which started Friday, and... Read More

    So Long, California: Major County Votes to Study Secession

    RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (AP) — The November elections saw Californians continue to embrace progressive leadership, but voters in one of... Read More

    RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. (AP) — The November elections saw Californians continue to embrace progressive leadership, but voters in one of the state’s most populous counties are so frustrated with this political direction that they voted to consider seceding and forming their own state. An advisory ballot... Read More

    February 23, 2022
    by Dan McCue
    What They Are Saying About Russia, Sanctions and Ukraine

    WASHINGTON — On Monday night, Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, and on Tuesday, the Biden administration imposed significant sanctions... Read More

    WASHINGTON — On Monday night, Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, and on Tuesday, the Biden administration imposed significant sanctions on the Russian Central Bank and other banking interests. On Wednesday, a senior administration official said, another round of sanctions will go into effect against “Russian... Read More

    July 20, 2021
    by Dan McCue
    Potential Ransomware Attacks Take Center Stage at Annual Election Exercise

    Election officials from across the country ran through dozens of worst-case scenarios last week, including potential ransomware attacks, during an... Read More

    Election officials from across the country ran through dozens of worst-case scenarios last week, including potential ransomware attacks, during an exercise staged by the the Department of Homeland Security. This is the fourth year the department has asked state and local election officials to participate in... Read More

    July 12, 2021
    by Dan McCue
    Bipartisanship, Infrastructure and Local Government Take Center Stage at NACo Conference

    The headliners included everyone from Vice President Kamala Harris to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeig to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but... Read More

    The headliners included everyone from Vice President Kamala Harris to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeig to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but have no doubt, the focus of the National Association of Counties annual conference was on renewal and a bipartisan way forward. In a way, it couldn’t... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top